Robin Parker | Features Editor | Broadcast Inside No. 9 creators prepare 'lighter' return 19-Jan-2017 BBC2’s Inside No. 9 is to return for a fourth series – and creators Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith are promising a lighter tone to the black comedy. Media experts: fake news to intensify 11-Jan-2017 News organisations are piling pressure on social networks to weed out ‘fake news’ amid concerns over the escalation of web hoaxes. Midsomer Murders indie boss departs 13-Dec-2016 Company Pictures chief executive Michele Buck is to add Bentley Productions to her remit following the departure of the managing director of the Midsomer Murders indie. 2-Dec-2016 Not-for-profit indie CTVC has hired the producer of ITV’s Sun Military Awards as its chief executive. 30-Nov-2016 Deutschland 83 creator Anna Winger has teamed up with Carnival Films to develop her first UK series.

CBeebies heads Children’s Baftas 21-Nov-2016 CBeebies controller Kay Benbow took a swipe at US president elect Donald Trump at last night’s Children’s Baftas, championing her channel’s role in developing “happy, resilient and tolerant” children. Comedy heads eye co-productions 10-Nov-2016 Comedy can shrug off its reputation as drama’s poor relation by blurring genre lines and tapping into an increased global appetite for co-production, commissioners have declared. David Brindley lands BBC factual role 4-Nov-2016 The BBC has hired Channel 4 factual commissioner David Brindley to head its renamed popular factual and factual entertainment department.

Guy Slattery, Vice 20-Oct-2016 Viceland’s UK ratings may not be giving its rivals sleepless nights, but general manager Guy Slattery says that bringing a new angle to broadcasting will reap rewards ITV drama: Lygo demands more fun & lightness 18-Oct-2016 ITV director of television Kevin Lygo has called on programme makers to come up with more “happy, life affirming” dramas like The Durrells, saying he was “tired of endless murders”. Black Mirror, Netflix 14-Oct-2016 From different episode lengths to unusual aspect ratios, Black Mirror’s move from C4 to Netflix has given the production and post teams freedom to experiment. Robin Parker reports Amazon and Vice execs join Promax event 11-Oct-2016 Senior executives from Amazon Video and Viceland are joining the likes of Channel 4 and NBC Universal at PromaxBDA’s 2016 conference. Planet Earth, BBC1 6-Oct-2016 A decade after its groundbreaking series, BBC Studios’ NHU is again using cutting-edge techniques and technology to take the viewer right into the world of animals.

Timmer & Keane, Mammoth 15-Sep-2016 Mammoth Screen’s husband-and-wife team begged Kevin Lygo to avoid a Victoria-Poldark clash - but both shows have become Sunday night winners, they tell Robin Parker BBC4 to recreate first British TV broadcast 26-Aug-2016 BBC4 is to recreate the first broadcast on British TV using the original technology and filming techniques used 80 years ago. YouTube leads Carpool Karaoke strategy 26-Aug-2016 The Late Late Show With James Corden executive producer has revealed that he checks YouTube stats ahead of TV ratings – as 172 of the show’s clips have notched up over 1m online views. Top talent beefs up ITV entertainment 25-Aug-2016 Harry Hill, Dawn French and Jack Dee are all fronting new shows for ITV as the broadcaster beefs up its entertainment and comedy slate. Broadcasters hit back at Vice MacTaggart claims 25-Aug-2016 Broadcasters have put on a united defence of the public service broadcasting model in the face of Vice chief executive Shane Smith’s charge that they fail to connect with young audiences.

TV’s class divide laid bare 24-Aug-2016 The class divisions in the television industry are laid bare in a report that reveals that people in the media are three times more likely to have attended a private or selective grammar school than the national average. Ice Town: Life on the Edge; BBC Earth 11-Aug-2016 Filming in icy conditions isn’t everyone’s idea of adventure. Robin Parker gets a glimpse of the challenges for crew and townsfolk alike Cucumber producer joins Doctor Who 13-Jul-2016 Cucumber and Misfits producer Matt Strevens is to join Doctor Who as executive producer alongside new showrunner Chris Chibnall. CBeebies prepares dedicated games app 8-Jul-2016 CBeebies is to launch a third app to host HTML5 games previously only available via the channel’s website. Fresh One whisks up Disney online spin-off 7-Jul-2016 Fresh One is to follow up its Disney Channel cooking competition First Class Chefs with an short-form online spin-off featuring families.

Kids producers prepare for Brexit 7-Jul-2016 A panel of children’s TV executives have pointed to the resilience of the sector in the face of the threat to growth from Brexit. Purnell explains BBC Children's move 7-Jul-2016 BBC Children’s new home as part of the strategy and education department will enable the corporation to learn from the “frontline” of changing audience behaviours, according to James Purnell. Waheed Alli: contestable funding is a BBC time bomb 6-Jul-2016 Labour peer Waheed Alli has warned that the proposed £60m contestable funding pot for children’s TV is a “ticking time bomb” for the BBC licence fee. Caroline Aherne: TV pays tribute 4-Jul-2016 Tributes have poured in from across the TV industry for The Royle Family co-creator Caroline Aherne, who has died from cancer at 52. Kids' factual panel: giving children their voice 1-Jul-2016 A panel of documentary makers at Shef?eld DocFest shared their insights on making documentaries for youngsters and letting them ?lm themselves.

E4 triumphs at Digital Awards for second time 29-Jun-2016 E4 has been named Channel of the Year at the Broadcast Digital Awards for the second year running. Diederick Santer, chief executive, Kudos 23-Jun-2016 From Ancient Rome to the not-too-distant future of C4’s Humans, via ITV’s crime-solving 1950s vicar, Diederick Santer talks to Robin Parker about meeting diverse demand for drama. Kudos lines up Robert Harris trilogy adaptation 23-Jun-2016 Kudos is to adapt Robert Harris’s Cicero trilogy of Ancient Rome political thrillers as a major international drama series. Kudos development producer joins Sister Pictures 21-Jun-2016 Kudos development producer Naomi de Pear has left the Endemol Shine Group company to be reunited with former chief executive Jane Featherstone at her indie Sister Pictures. Love’s Muslim doc to explore pluralism 15-Jun-2016 Love Productions’ forthcoming BBC2 constructed documentary series is to place 10 Muslims from a variety of backgrounds into a single house.

Doc/Fest: TV fails to reflect Muslims 15-Jun-2016 Media misrepresentation of Muslims, and fear of reproach from within their communities, are hindering TV depictions of the less “extreme” aspects of Islam, according to leading programme-makers. C5 keen to 'own' down-the-lens docs 14-Jun-2016 Knickerbockerglory is to apply the ‘down-the-lens’ technique of its Channel 5 documentary I’m An Alcoholic: My Name Is… to five further subject areas. Neil Grant, Films of Record 9-Jun-2016 Films of Record managing director Neil Grant tells Robin Parker about the streak of anarchy and love of provocation and playfulness that have marked his career in groundbreaking TV E4 strikes second Netflix deal 9-May-2016 An E4 comedy horror series from the creator of Misfits has become the broadcaster’s second drama to be co-produced by Netflix. John Hay, C4 5-May-2016 Channel 4 arts commissioner John Hay tells Robin Parker why he wants artists to tackle ‘front-half-of-the-paper’ topics.

Plus: Pegah Farahmand on supercharging Random Acts Dancer Akram Khan part of C4 arts slate 4-May-2016 Dancer Akram Khan is to create and stage a work in British factories in a one-off Channel 4 documentary from Grayson Perry’s producers. Diversity: writing and directing 23-Mar-2016 Tackling the lack of diversity in writing and directing TV needs more than lip service. Robin Parker reports on efforts to get new voices in front of producers and commissioners Drama indie revenues rocket 17-Mar-2016 The revenues of the UK’s top five drama indies rocketed by a third last year, boosted by global appetite for English-language drama and the flow of inter national money into production. Indies rally behind Channel 4 17-Mar-2016 The UK production sector has rallied to Channel 4’s defence, warning that privatisation would lead to a homogenised market and destabilise the UK’s “delicate eco-system” of public service broadcasting.

Peter Bowker plots WW2 epic 16-Mar-2016 Peter Bowker is eyeing up a multi-lingual World War II drama as his next BBC project – and plans to go deeper into society’s attitudes toward autism in a second series of The A Word. Tiger Aspect expands Cavey brief in comedy rejig 15-Mar-2016 Tiger Aspect has restructured its senior comedy team to give Ben Cavey, the managing director of its Cave Bear label, an expanded role. Comedy roundtable: keeping comedy fresh 10-Mar-2016 Comedy hits can help to define a channel, but are new ideas losing out to safer bets, ‘funny factual’ and an inflated drama slate? Robin Parker asks five leading comedy producers Sharon Horgan pilot to spearhead BBC comedy strand 10-Mar-2016 The BBC is lining up a contemporary comedy from Catastrophe co-creator Sharon Horgan and The IT Crowd writer Graham Linehan as a counter to its season of sitcom revivals.

Sally Woodward Gentle & Lee Morris, Sid Gentle Films 11-Feb-2016 The duo behind drama indie Sid Gentle Films tell Robin Parker why they’re seeking out leftfi eld talent - and what this means for diversity in the industry Susanne Bier, The Night Manager 11-Feb-2016 Acclaimed Danish film director Susanne Bier waited 25 years to make her TV debut - with a thriller that had taken almost as long to get to the screen. Employee satisfaction: The key to a happy company 28-Jan-2016 Job satisfaction, the ability to make decisions and, most of all, having fun are vital elements in keeping TV staff happy and motivated, according to our survey. Robin Parker reports C4 orders Israeli drama remake 14-Jan-2016 Channel 4 is eyeing up an adaptation of a drama dubbed the Israeli Entourage as a potential successor to comedy-drama Fresh Meat. Piers Wenger, Channel 4 14-Jan-2016 Aliens, Islamic State and dot.com millionaires are all on Channel 4’s scripted slate.

Head of drama Piers Wenger tells Robin Parker what is hitting the broadcaster’s sweet spot E4 in Netflix drama co-pro deal 14-Jan-2016 E4 has struck a landmark deal with Netflix to co-produce an online gaming-inspired series from the creator of Skins, as part of plans to supercharge drama on the youth channel. Murdered By My Boyfriend writer lines up sci-fi drama 4-Dec-2015 The writer of BBC3’s Bafta-winning drama Murdered By My Boyfriend is turning to dystopian science fiction for her next project. Martin Pope and Michael Rose, Magic Light Pictures 3-Dec-2015 The animators behind BBC1 festive treats The Gruffalo and Stick Man tell Robin Parker how CGI helps them to find and fill the 3D space between the linds of children’s stories Deborah Shipley, 1955-2015 24-Nov-2015 Campaigning documentary maker and True Vision Productions co-founder Deborah Shipley has died after a long battle with cancer.

Somethin' Else cleans up at kids' Baftas 23-Nov-2015 Somethin’ Else was the big winner at this year’s British Academy Children’s Awards, taking home three awards including best indie. Julie Gardner and Jane Tranter, Bad Wolf 12-Nov-2015 Bad Wolf’s co-founders tell Robin Parker why Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy embodies their mission statement - and what their adaptation will mean for Wales Directors UK: BAME research 12-Nov-2015 Where are all the BAME directors? A new report reveals shocking truths about the lack of representation in this key role across all television genres, discovers Robin Parker Directors UK delivers a diversity ‘wake-up call’ 12-Nov-2015 The TV industry is at least a decade away from achieving a fair representation of diversity among directors, according to Directors UK chief executive Andrew Chowns.

Teletubbies, CBeebies 5-Nov-2015 The Teletubbies are back, but with their original outdoor set long gone, new producer Darrall Macqueen used models and CGI to recreate the magic, they tell Robin Parker Somethin' Else scores four Kids Bafta nods 22-Oct-2015 Multiplatform producer Somethin’ Else has won four nominations at this year’s Children’s Bafta Awards, including production company of the year. Brian Hill and Katie Bailiff, Century Films 22-Oct-2015 Film-makers Brian Hill and Katie Bailiff talk about putting are before profits and experimenting with form - even when producing more mainstream output UKTV sets apprenticeship targets 14-Oct-2015 UKTV is to expand its apprentice scheme next year as part of chief executive Darren Childs’ drive to encourage a wider talent pool into TV.

Greg Brenman and Roanna Benn, Drama Republic 8-Oct-2015 Drama Republic’s co-founders talk to Robin Parker about their indie’s rapid rise, working with writers, and scoring two hits in the same week with Doctor Foster and An Inspector Calls Remembering Cilla's unique talent 5-Aug-2015 Former LWT head of entertainment Alan Boyd has paid tribute to Cilla Black’s unique “common instinct” with the public and her meticulous planning on Surprise Surprise and Blind Date. Bravo pilots Lime family business format 17-Jul-2015 Lime Pictures has won a pilot order from US network Bravo for a format in which family businesses will be run by the reluctant offspring of their founders. Whittingdale branded a 'hypocrite' over BBC deal 15-Jul-2015 Culture secretary John Whittingdale has been labelled a “complete and utter hypocrite” by his Labour counterpart for ushering through changes to the BBC behind closed doors. Extras exec steers talent from BBC3 10-Jul-2015 Veteran comedy producer Charlie Hanson has claimed that BBC3 is no longer his first port of call for pitching new comedy ideas and urged talent to produce and distribute work themselves.

BT: Sky overcharges subs by £500m 9-Jul-2015 BT is lobbying Ofcom to review the pay-TV market, arguing that Sky’s dominance is costing consumers £500 million a year and damaging sports rights negotiations. CBBC scales back original commissions 6-Jul-2015 CBBC is to cut back on original commissions and supersize its key brands – as it reveals it is hunting for new presenters and a studio sitcom. Webb: CBBC and CBeebies at risk of following BBC3 online 3-Jul-2015 BBC director of children’s Alice Webb has warned that CBBC and CBeebies are at risk of going the way of BBC3 and moving online if the corporation takes a funding cut during charter renewal. John Thomson to front Gold stand-up show 25-Jun-2015 UKTV has ordered a stand-up comedy clip show hosted by John Thomson in the guise of ‘PC Northern club comic’ character Bernard Righton.

Roundtable: Solving the kids' TV crisis 25-Jun-2015 Broadcast’s panel of experts examine the decline in children’s commissioning, the growing role of digital content and how the future of the genre could be secured. Robin Parker reports Drama Special: Training 18-Jun-2015 Drama producers are looking for innovative training methods. Robin Parker hears how Tiger Aspect is taking the initiative, while graduates of a Creative Skillset scheme discuss their experiences Roundtable: the future of factual 4-Jun-2015 Film-makers discuss the state of the genre, from brands’ over-the-top demands in exchange for access to the impact of subscription platforms and BBC3’s move online. Robin Parker reports ITV lines up Queen Victoria drama from Mammoth Screen 18-May-2015 Former Silver River head Daisy Goodwin is to make her screenwriting debut with a Queen Victoria biopic for ITV. US execs lead Edinburgh TV Festival line-up 28-Apr-2015 US execs will be out in force in Edinburgh this year, with senior figures from HBO, Showtime, FX and Discovery flying the flag for cable and Amazon Studios representing the new breed of online commissioners.

Diversity: a mixed reaction 2-Apr-2015 Indies are divided over whether they can meet broadcasters’ diversity strategies, with those welcoming the efforts as a step in the right direction matched by others fearing that the financial burden could fall on their shoulders. Big four broadcasters jockey for position 26-Mar-2015 Plans to allow BBC Productions to compete in the open market have divided the indie sector, while ITV, C4 and Sky have been busy making acquisitions. Consolidators tighten their grip 26-Mar-2015 Despite double-digit declines in revenues for groups such as All3Media and Shine, ahead of its merger with top-ranked Endemol, UK turnover was up overall. BBC Studios: the indie verdict 26-Mar-2015 Almost 100 indies have delivered their verdict on the BBC’s plans to abolish quotas and commercialise in-house production – and it has split the sector down the middle. BBC orders sketch show double 5-Mar-2015 The BBC is hoping two female performers can deliver an eradefining sketch show - but Channel 4 is stepping back from the genre.

5-Feb-2015 BBC comedy The Office has been crowned the industry’s favourite show of the past 20 years. Broadcast Awards 1996 - 2015: celebrating two decades of winners 29-Jan-2015 When the Broadcast team sat down to consider how best to mark 20 years of the Broadcast Awards, it became clear: it’s all about the shows. Russell T Davies on Cucumber 8-Jan-2015 Writer Russell T Davies tells Robin Parker about mixing grit and gloss in his return to the Manchester gay scene. Horrible Histories gets a makeover 6-Jan-2015 CBBC comedy series Horrible Histories is to return for a 12-part run of ‘mini biographies’ featuring a new cast and guest stars including Ben Miller and Rowan Atkinson. Diversity improves in peak 11-Dec-2014 Ob-doc series Liberty Of London and The Gadget Show helped to boost Channel 4 and Channel 5’s on-screen diversity last month, according to the latest phase of a major Broadcast-backed study.

5-Dec-2014 The BBC has secured every TV nomination in this year’s Writers’ Guild of Great Britain Awards. Salmon: BBC must tread carefully over in-house plans 1-Dec-2014 The BBC must ensure that plans to commercialise its in-house production arm do not impact the progress the corporation has made in the regions, according to BBC England director Peter Salmon. Bafta crowns Cartoon Network 24-Nov-2014 Cartoon Network edged past the BBC’s children’s channels to be crowned channel of the year at the British Academy Children’s Awards last night. Fixed rig heads in new direction 13-Nov-2014 Fixed-rig television is being stretched into intriguing new areas by adopting the language of primetime drama series and seizing the opportunity to create ‘real-life’ versions of established TV genres, documentary-makers have claimed. Bafta honours Clangers co-creator 11-Nov-2014 Peter Firmin, the artist and puppet-maker behind iconic creations including Noggin the Nog, Bagpuss and Basil Brush, is to receive the special award at this year’s Children’s Baftas.

Melvyn Bragg: support small indies 6-Nov-2014 Melvyn Bragg has accused commissioners of failing to support the small indies tasked with meeting their demands for “risky” programming. Great British Bake Off final is year's biggest show 9-Oct-2014 WEDNESDAY: The Great British Bake Off bowed out with 12.3m last night - the biggest overnight audience of the past twelve months. Matthew Price takes senior Today reporting brief 25-Sep-2014 Radio 4’s Today programme is to appoint its first full-time chief reporter in a bid to give its domestic news a more consistent voice. Furchester Hotel 25-Sep-2014 A show with a cast of 170 puppets and a giant set that completely filled the studio was a huge logistical challenge Jeremy Paxman to host C4 election night 24-Sep-2014 Channel 4 has signed up Jeremy Paxman to bring “mischief and danger” to its 2015 general election coverage.

Bryan Elsley & Tony Jordan: writers need to grow up 22-Aug-2014 Leading drama writers have called on their peers to “grow up” and take more responsibility for the production of their shows as high-end series increasingly adopt a US showrunner–style model. Entertainment shows fail diversity test 21-Aug-2014 The vast majority of primetime entertainment shows are failing to refl ect the diversity of the British population, according to the first findings of a major Broadcast-backed study. Esio Trot, BBC1 21-Aug-2014 Richard Curtis has lured Dustin Hoffman and Judi Dench to BBC1 for his Christmas adaptation of Roald Dahl’s Esio Trot. 31-Jul-2014 Clerkenwell Films’ chief executive talks about the indie’s eclectic project slate and working with fresh talent Disney: indies to make all long-form shows 10-Jul-2014 Disney is to end in-house production of long-form shows in Europe and has called on indies to pitch live-action, sport and factual entertainment formats.

CBBC and CBeebies team up 10-Jul-2014 The BBC plans to launch at least two dramas that will air on both CBBC and CBeebies over the next 18 months, and has its eye on a breakout hit that could get a Saturday teatime repeat on BBC1. Lily's Driftwood Bay returns to Nick 4-Jul-2014 Nickelodeon has commissioned a second series of pre-school series Lily’s Driftwood Bay from Belfast indie Sixteen South. Kids’ TV tax break ‘worth £3m’ 3-Jul-2014 A tax break for live-action children’s television could be worth almost £3m a year to the government – enough to fund four new shows, Pact has declared.

Theresa Wise, RTS 26-Jun-2014 The RTS chief executive talks to Robin Parker about overhauling the society’s education brief and nurturing the next generation of TV talent through its new bursary scheme Producers donate £1m to Creative Skillset fund 26-Jun-2014 Production levies on a total of 61 high-end TV dramas and animations have returned more than £1m to Creative Skillet’s Skills Investment Fund since it was set up in April last year. BBC3 wins big at 2014 Broadcast Digital Awards 25-Jun-2014 BBC3 was the big winner at this week’s Broadcast Digital Awards, picking up five gongs including Channel of the Year. The Broadcast Interview: Melvyn Bragg 12-Jun-2014 The South Bank Show presenter talks about revisiting his TV past, the freedom offered by Sky Arts - and the importance of broadcasters covering religion. Bragg: ITV and C4 must up their game on religion 10-Jun-2014 Television is failing to cover religious issues because commercial broadcasters are leaving it to the BBC to carry the bulk of coverage, according to Melvyn Bragg.

TV failing women directors 8-May-2014 Directors UK (DUK) is challenging broadcasters and producers to ensure that 30% of all shows are directed by women by 2017, after a major study found significant inequality in key genres, from crime drama to panel shows. Roger Graef, Films Of Record 8-May-2014 The Films of Record founder shares the secret to making a good doc, and why TV is as good as ever 24: Live Another Day, Sky 1 6-May-2014 A British crew helped to create a new twist on 24 that aims to be both fresh and reassuringly familiar, Robin Parker discovers. Purnell: Jamaica Inn audio issues “upsetting” 2-May-2014 The BBC found the furore over Jamaica Inn’s audio issues an “upsetting” setback after years of progress on improving sound quality, director of strategy James Purnell has admitted. BBC axes The Review Show 27-Mar-2014 The BBC has axed its 20-year old arts round-up The Review Show less than 12 months after switching it to a monthly BBC4 format.

BBC and C4 vie for corruption reporting award 24-Mar-2014 BBC1’s Panorama and Channel 4’s Unreported World are to square off in the inaugural award for corruption reporting at this year’s One World Media Awards. Virgin eyes Amazon streaming app 20-Mar-2014 Virgin Media has entered talks with Amazon over adding streaming video service Amazon Prime Instant Video to the TiVo platform. Indies blame broadcasters over diversity 20-Mar-2014 The indie sector believes that broadcasters’ refusal to take risks on new production staff and onscreen talent is holding back diversity in the TV industry. BBC3 budget cut in half by move online 6-Mar-2014 BBC3’s programme budget will be cut in half, and £30m of it will be redirected into BBC1 drama, when the youth channel moves online in autumn 2015. iPlayer drama slate revealed 27-Feb-2014 BBC director general Tony Hall’s vision of making iPlayer the “front door of the BBC” will move a step closer next month with the release of three web-only dramas.

BBC1 signs Red Planet Motown series 20-Feb-2014 BBC1 has picked up Tony Jordan’s large-scale Motown ‘jukebox musical’ and is developing a series of smaller studio plays with the writer’s indie Red Planet Pictures. 6-Feb-2014 Global Radio has sold eight Real, Capital and Smooth-branded local radio stations to Irish radio group Communicorp. Inside No. 9 debuts with 1.1m 6-Feb-2014 BBC2’s new comedy series Inside No. 9 launched to a solid 1.1m viewers last night but the channel found greater success with documentary Royal Cousins At War. BBC Brit unveiled by Worldwide 27-Jan-2014 Male-skewing factual entertainment programmes including Top Gear are to feature on a new BBC Worldwide international channel, BBC Brit. C4 to split third series of Black Mirror 9-Jan-2014 Channel 4’s darkly comic series Black Mirror is returning for a third outing - but the dramas will be split rather than run consecutively creator Charlie Brooker has revealed.

Nick Fraser & Kate Townsend, Storyville 9-Jan-2014 From football in South Sudan to a chimpanzee’s court case, Nick Fraser and Kat Townsend challenge how we view the world Storyville to examine nuclear close shaves 9-Jan-2014 BBC4 plans to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the first atomic bomb with a “visceral” study of the history of nuclear near-misses. Great Train Robbery makes solid start 19-Dec-2013 BBC1’s The Great Train Robbery got off to a rattling start on Wednesday, grabbing almost twice as many viewers as ITV’s Lucan in the battle of the fact-based dramas. Toast to return to C4 6-Dec-2013 Channel 4 comedy Toast of London is returning for a second series next year despite recording low ratings for its first run. Doctor Who 50th becomes most-watched drama of 2013 2-Dec-2013 Doctor Who’s 50th anniverary special has passed Downton Abbey to become the most watched TV drama of the year after adding 2.6m in the week after broadcast.

CBeebies preps Three Little Pigs 25-Nov-2013 CBeebies is lining up a multi-platform series of programming based around the story of The Three Little Pigs next Easter. Operation Ouch twins secure Horizon slot 25-Nov-2013 The twin brothers who present Bafta-winning CBBC medical show Operation Ouch! are taking their double act into primetime for the BBC’s Horizon strand. C4 eyes Jamie Oliver web content 7-Nov-2013 Jamie Oliver is in talks for Channel 4 to use content from his online channel Food Tube on screen and potentially for new on-demand service 4Shorts. C4 recommissions Man Down 7-Nov-2013 Channel 4 sitcom Man Down is to return for a second series next year, the broadcaster has confirmed. Hollyoaks proud of edgy plots as it lines up male rape storyline 24-Oct-2013 Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks is restating its commitment to controversial storylines with a plot about male rape, despite Ofcom recently upholding complaints about violence in the soap.

C4 hit The Mill was made for post-watershed slot 23-Oct-2013 The producers of Channel 4 drama The Mill cut the show for a pre-watershed 8pm slot after the edit was completed, the show’s director has revealed. BBC unearths lost Doctor Who episodes 11-Oct-2013 The BBC has released nine long-lost episodes of Doctor Who on iTunes after they were discovered in a TV relay station in Nigeria. BBC plans Playlister partner network 9-Oct-2013 The BBC’s new ‘music curation’ service Playlister will evolve to connect to download-to-own digital services such as iTunes. Hunt hails drama but admits 8pm struggles 29-Aug-2013 Channel 4 arrived at Edinburgh on a roll following a string of drama hits – but Jay Hunt admitted that getting pre-watershed entertainment and fact ent right remains a struggle. Man Down up for Christmas special 27-Aug-2013 Channel 4 has ordered a Christmas special of Greg Davies sitcom Man Down before the first episode has aired.

Ben Stephenson defends The Fall 24-Aug-2013 BBC drama controller Ben Stephenson has defended BBC2’s The Fall - arguing that its mix of crime, sex and sexuality touched a nerve in ways that many crime dramas tend to ignore. BBC to reinvent 'conventional whodunit' 24-Aug-2013 BBC drama chief Ben Stephenson is looking for ways to reinvent the “conventional whodunit” with some serialised elements. Man Down lands Christmas special 23-Aug-2013 Channel 4 has ordered a Christmas special of Greg Davies sitcom Man Down before the first episode has aired. C4 defends Undateables brand 23-Aug-2013 The commissioner of Channel 4’s The Undateables has defended the controversial title and marketing campaign – but admitted that the publicity “struggled to convey the warmth of the show”. C4 exec slams 'poverty porn' tag 23-Aug-2013 Channel 4’s docs commissioner has branded the term “poverty porn” as an “offensive” label for programmes that attempt to contribute to the debate about benefits.

Hadlow reveals first BBC2 / BBC4 tie-ups 22-Aug-2013 The music of the 18th century and the science of clouds will be the subject of the first major collaborations between BBC2 and BBC4 since Janice Hadlow became joint controller. Raw to explore Blackout for C4 22-Aug-2013 Raw TV is to weave user-generated archive with scripted drama to explore the effects of a nationwide power cut for Channel 4. C4 reveals latest comedy pilots 22-Aug-2013 A chlamydia sufferer’s mission to come clean to his ex-partners and a group of amateur superhero crimefighters are among the subjects featured in the latest round of pilots for Channel 4’s 4Funnies strand. C4 shelves Bad Sugar 22-Jul-2013 Channel 4 has shelved plans for a full series of spoof telenovela Bad Sugar due to clashing projects between the cast and crew. BBC4 bowls them over 19-Jul-2013 As The Ashes kicked off, BBC4 took a sideways look back at cricket, airing Aussie two-part factual drama Howzat! Kerry Packer’s War.

BBC2 in gear with F1 doc 19-Jul-2013 Sixteen years since his Edinburgh Fringe debut and eight since his Radio 4 series launched, Steve Delaney followed Miranda Hart last week in finally securing a BBC2 transfer, for his Count Arthur Strong character. Sun leaves TV in the shade 19-Jul-2013 Last Monday morning, blearyeyed Britons turned as one to their news outlet of choice to check that it hadn’t been a dream brought on by excesses of cold beer and barbecued burgers: a Brit really had won Wimbledon and, more importantly, summer really was here. The Mill, Channel 4 18-Jul-2013 C4’s history and drama teams came together to deliver a ‘worm’s-eye view’ of the Industrial Revolution. BBC Children’s bids to up its multiplatform game 11-Jul-2013 BBC Children’s is “lagging behind its audience” in terms of the platforms it uses and must focus its efforts on getting “alongside” them within a decade, director of children’s Joe Godwin has revealed.

5-Jul-2013 CBBC is inviting indies to pitch for an extended run of documentary strand My Life next year. Boomerang wants reinvented Flintstones and Hong Kong Phooey 5-Jul-2013 Turner Broadcasting is urging producers to help reinvent classic cartoon characters to join the likes of Scooby Doo and Looney Tunes on its Boomerang channel. Horrible Histories to live on with one-off specials 5-Jul-2013 Horrible Histories is set to live on in themed specials after the fifth and final series finishes this summer. Olympic opening ceremony scribe slams reality TV 5-Jul-2013 Olympics opening ceremony writer Frank Cottrell Boyce has delivered a broadside against reality TV as part of an impassioned speech celebrating the power of storytelling. C4 Murder Trial: court on camera 2-Jul-2013 Channel 4’s unprecedented look inside a Scottish murder court is unlikely to prompt a flood of filming requests into restricted areas of the judicial system, its producers have claimed. 31-May-2013 Fresh Prince reunion gives The Graham Norton Show a ratings boost, while The Fall grips crime fans.

Flower power boosts BBC2 30-May-2013 From Belfast to Australia via Scunthorpe, Manchester, New York and Vegas, all via a spell in A&E, smaller PSBs took viewers on quite a trip this week. BBC channels get serious 30-May-2013 With BBC2 delivering huge numbers in drama, the BBC’s digital channels decided that 9pm Monday was the time to serve up some serious factual shows. A mixed bag for the Doctor 30-May-2013 As is traditional, Doctor Who enjoyed a resurgence as the latest series reached its climax – but it could not match the opener of this eight-part run. BBC awarded for Africa reports 8-May-2013 Two BBC exposes of female genital mutilation in Africa picked up prizes at the annual One World Media Awards last night. S4C top as commissions fall 2-May-2013 The latest data from the Broadcast Greenlight index shows the Welsh PSB ordering the most shows, but which indies and commissioners have been the busiest?

Faith Penhale, BBC Wales 25-Apr-2013 BBC Wales’ head of drama tells Robin Parker about her plans for a broader, more ambitious mix of shows – and why tax breaks can galvanise writers to free their imaginations Stephen Poliakoff’s Dancing On The Edge handed bonus episode 15-Jan-2013 The lead characters from Stephen Poliakoff’s 1930s-era BBC2 drama Dancing On The Edge will feature in a bonus episode of two-hander interviews that will air after the series ends. Who’s top of the class? 10-Jan-2013 Which indies are winning the biggest orders and who is the most prolific commissioner? Robin Parker delves into the latest data from commissioning index Greenlight to find out Esler: McAlpine report "would embarrass a student journalist" 5-Dec-2012 Newsnight presenter Gavin Esler has branded the programme’s report that led to the linking of Lord McAlpine with child abuse claims as an “abominable” error “that would embarrass a student journalist”.

Julian Farino 22-Nov-2012 A documentary-maker by background, Julian Farino is mid-way through a two-year exclusivity deal with HBO in the US. He tells Robin Parker what Brits bring to the US party. Klein: BBC4 will keep character in DQF cuts 22-Nov-2012 Richard Klein has vowed to maintain BBC4’s broad-ranging character in the face of programming budget cuts of almost 30%, aiming to plug gaps in its history and scripted output through acquisitions and arts. BBC4 keeps one foot in drama 21-Nov-2012 BBC4 is looking at taking a minority stake in co-produced dramas in a bid to keep the genre on the channel in the face of Delivering Quality First cuts. Klein hints at pulling TOTP 21-Nov-2012 Archive editions of Top of the Pops face an uncertain future on BBC4, with controller Richard Klein admitting that “no decision” has been made on whether to screen the 1978 editions of the music show.

Vicars, boffins and scousers share jokes for BBC4 21-Nov-2012 Vicars are to tell dirty jokes for BBC4 in a British spin-off of cult hit Old Jews Telling Jokes for a planned ‘year of comedy’ on the channel. Hurford-Jones confirmed as Sky Living head 9-Nov-2012 Antonia Hurford-Jones is to become director of Sky Living on a permanent basis after four months in an acting role. Jameela Jamil promoted to Chart Show as Kay and Yates leave Radio 1 9-Nov-2012 Jameela Jamil is to become the first sole female presenter of the Radio 1, taking over from Reggie Yates in a reshuffle that also includes the departure of Vernon Kay. Inbetweeners Movie lures 3.3m to C4 9-Nov-2012 Channel 4 trounced BBC1 with the network premiere of The Inbetweeners Movie last night, with 2.8m (13.8%) from 9pm, with +1 taking its total to 3.3m.

Nick Catliff, Lion 11-Oct-2012 Consistently breaking new ground has made Lion TV a success on both sides of the Atlantic. Robin Parker hears how the indie keeps reinventing itself to stay ahead of the game BBC Trust puts Europe, religion and immigration under scrutiny 10-Oct-2012 The BBC Trust has kicked off an independent review into the balance of the BBC’s coverage of Europe, immigration and religion. BBC Trust demands "gold standard" of child protection 10-Oct-2012 The BBC Trust has called on the corporation to prove that it has “gold standard” child protection policies in the wake of the Jimmy Savile allegations - and robust measures in place to avoid a culture of fear in speaking out about inappropriate practices. Claudia Rosencrantz joins Fresh One 10-Oct-2012 Fresh One is planning a push into entertainment with the appointment of former Virgin and ITV executive Claudia Rosencrantz as director of programmes. Paul Abbott calls time on Shameless 9-Oct-2012 Channel 4 has called time on long-running comedy-drama Shameless – just six months after creator Paul Abbott declared it could run for 40 more years.

What to see at Mipcom 2012 4-Oct-2012 Children’s classics, Scandi drama, globetrotting gameshows and the story of the men who built America are among the must-see properties on La Croisette this year. Robin Parker reports Ahmed unravels Ottoman Empire for BBC2 series 20-Sep-2012 BBC head of religion Aaqil Ahmed is to fulfil a long-held ambition to explore the Ottoman Empire in a documentary series for BBC2. Shameless duo link up for BBC drama 20-Sep-2012 Exile writer Danny Brocklehurst has joined forces again with Shameless colleague Jim Poyser for a BBC1 contemporary crime drama. BBC2 puts faith in more religious programming 19-Sep-2012 BBC2 is looking for more religious programmes that move beyond “dogma and politics” and look at the everyday life of believers. Caroline Skinner, Doctor Who 6-Sep-2012 Executive producer Caroline Skinner tells Robin Parker about keeping the early introduction of Doctor Who’s new sidekick hushed up, the show’s growing ambitions and its rise in the US.

Dallas, Channel 5 30-Aug-2012 Director and executive producer Michael M Robin and head writer Cynthia Cidre tell Robin Parker of the challenges faced in bringing much-loved drama Dallas back to TV. The Voice to feature "spinning chairs" in more episodes 24-Aug-2012 BBC1’s The Voice will extend the ‘blind auditions’ of the early rounds to more episodes of the second series in a bid to stop viewers tailing off. Horrible Histories film in the works 23-Aug-2012 The producers of Horrible Histories are in talks to produce a full-length feature film spin-off of the CBBC show. Hot Shots alumni: one year on 9-Aug-2012 Last year’s Broadcast Hot Shots talk to Robin Parker about the impact appearing in the supplement has had on their careers. Sarah Cunliffe, Big Wave Productions 26-Jul-2012 Big Wave may be small in size but its big ideas have helped it carve out a niche on both sides of the pond.

CBBC sketch show to feature Brian Butterfield 6-Jul-2012 Peter Serafinowicz creation Brian Butterfield is to make his children’s TV debut in a new CBBC sketch series from the co-creators of Horrible Histories. BBC Olympics presenters to interact with graphics 27-Jun-2012 The BBC is to launch a virtual ‘swiping’ graphic for presenters to help viewers navigate the 24 channels of live feeds of the Olympics. Horrible Histories Jubilee sketches will never be aired 11-Jun-2012 Horrible Histories sketches commissioned for the BBC’s Jubilee coverage will never see the light of day, its producer has confirmed. 56 Up, ITV1 24-May-2012 Every seven years, the production crew behind Michael Apted’s doc come together to recreate the magic. Robin Parker talks to the director and his team as they complete 56 Up. Neal Street Productions 19-Apr-2012 Film and theatre have been fertile ground for Neal Street in recent years, but the success of BBC1 drama Call the Midwife has focused attention back on its third arm – TV.

C4 battles BBC at South Bank awards 2-Apr-2012 Channel 4 dramas This is England ’88 and Top Boy will square off against BBC1’s Sherlock at this year’s South Bank Sky Arts Awards. David Crane and Jeffrey Klarik 29-Mar-2012 The Hollywood couple who have found themselves making a sitcom in the UK about a UK couple making a sitcom in Hollywood tell Robin Parker about blurring fiction and reality. Indies: the global revolution 22-Mar-2012 Independent producers’ expansion into international markets is laid bare in Broadcast’s 2012 Indie Survey, which reveals that for one in five companies, at least half of their revenues come from outside the UK. Broadcast Indie Survey 2012 20-Mar-2012 Broadcast’s annual Indie Survey is out now and subscribers can browse the league tables on Broadcast Greenlight. From bands to brands 15-Mar-2012 Gary Davies has teamed up with the brains behind Foster’s Funny to bring brands and content creators together.

MPs back creative skills scheme 25-Jan-2012 A Skillset-backed report calling for better training across the creative sector has won the backing of culture secretary Jeremy Hunt and business secretary Vince Cable. Axed BBC shows win at British Comedy Awards 19-Dec-2011 Recently axed BBC2 comedies Shooting Stars and Psychoville had the last laugh at the British Comedy Awards picking up three prizes between them. Film-makers attack Frozen Planet over polar bear welfare 16-Dec-2011 The BBC’s decision to film a sequence of Frozen Planet in a Dutch zoo was “an abuse of film-makers’ rights” that risked endorsing inhumane conditions for animals, the producers of long-running series Wildlife SOS have claimed. Lesley Douglas named Lime CEO 12-Dec-2011 Lime Pictures, the indie behind Hollyoaks and The Only Way is Essex, has appointed former BBC Radio 2 controller Lesley Douglas as its new chief executive. Chris O'Dowd teams with Coogan for Sky 1 comedy 6-Dec-2011 The IT Crowd star Chris O’Dowd is to adapt his short film for Sky 1’s Little Crackers into a full length comedy series.

Sue Perkins: ‘I can’t even read an autocue’ 1-Dec-2011 You won’t find the Great British Bake Off presenter embarking on a TV ‘journey’, but her light-touch approach to factual can still shed light on big subjects. BBC3 trials long-form online push 1-Dec-2011 BBC3 is trialling long-form online comedy as part of a major push in the genre that includes a Jack Whitehall sitcom and recommissions for Pramface and Him & Her. BBC3 eyes The Voice US 1-Dec-2011 BBC3 is close to securing the rights of the US version of The Voice, to air after the UK version debuts on BBC1 next year. Whitehall bags BBC3 sitcom 30-Nov-2011 Jack Whitehall is to get his own BBC3 sitcom as part of a major comedy push that will include six 30-minute online pilots. BBC3 reveals diverse factual slate 30-Nov-2011 BBC3 is to challenge young fathers to deliver their partners’ babies, while Radio 1 DJ Reggie Yates will go inside Britain’s gangs as part of a major crime season.

Sue Perkins launches indie; developing comedy-drama 30-Nov-2011 Great British Bake Off presenter Sue Perkins has teamed up with Red Productions to develop a comedy-drama with her own new indie. Gannon adapts Swiss Family Robinson for ITV1 24-Nov-2011 Veteran drama writer and Soldier Soldier creator Lucy Gannon is developing a modern take on Swiss Family Robinson for ITV1. Fresh One: expanding TV horizons 24-Nov-2011 Fresh One has just passed a tipping point: less than half of its turnover now comes from Jamie Oliver shows. But his values permeate all its output, the senior team tell Robin Parker. Linehan turns off The IT Crowd 21-Oct-2011 Channel 4 sitcom The IT Crowd will not be returning for a fifth series but will wrap up with an extended special, creator Graham Linehan has confirmed. BBC1 orders Citizen Khan sitcom 21-Oct-2011 Comic performer and broadcaster Adil Ray is to take his Down the Line character Mr Khan to BBC1 for a studio sitcom.

Peter Richardson and Nick Smith, The Comic Strip 13-Oct-2011 From their Devon base, Great Western Features has recreated cinema’s golden age on a comedy budget. Robin Parker finds The Comic Strip creative forces enjoying a new lease of life. Derren Brown to train celebrity assassin for C4 7-Oct-2011 Derren Brown is to attempt to hypnotise a member of the public into ‘killing’ a celebrity in his new series. 6-Oct-2011 Unions have accused Mark Thompson of “destroying” the BBC and “diluting” its programmes through the DQF proposals. BBC4 cuts drama, keeps comedy 6-Oct-2011 BBC4’s comedy investment is to be ringfenced despite a scaling back of drama on the channel under today’s proposals. BBC4 buys two Scandi dramas 4-Oct-2011 MIPCOM: BBC4 hopes to pick up on the success of The Killing with another Scandinavian crime drama centred on the discovery of a dead woman’s abandoned body.

BBC launches Salford apprenticeship scheme 30-Sep-2011 The BBC plans to recruit 100 apprentices from disadvantaged backgrounds to work at MediaCityUK over the next three years. Top 20 dealmakers 2011 29-Sep-2011 Broadcast crowns the top 20 international dealmakers of the past 12 months, from the top floor to the coal-face. Battle lines drawn in comedy 1-Sep-2011 Comedy has emerged as a key battleground after this year’s Edinburgh festival, as BBC1 and ITV1 unveiled new initiatives to fend off Sky’s latest offensive in the genre. Elstein: Sky to exceed BBC/ITV quality 27-Aug-2011 EDINBURGH: Sky’s growing investment in UK productions is shifting the debate about its impact on competition in the TV industry, according to a former director of programmes. BBC1 boss unveils comedy/drama plans 27-Aug-2011 EDINBURGH: BBC1 controller Danny Cohen has revealed a third series of Luther, a doc with comedian Kevin Bridges and a live natural history series as part of a raft of new commissions.

Katie Piper signs two-year deal with Channel 4 26-Aug-2011 Channel 4 has signed up former model Katie Piper to a two-year exclusive deal and has also revealed some details of new projects for Derren Brown and Jimmy Doherty. C4 lining up major entertainment projects 26-Aug-2011 Channel 4 is planning to launch a major entertainment show in January, with six shows currently in consideration. Fawlty Towers producer dies 23-Aug-2011 Veteran comedy producer/director and former head of BBC comedy John Howard Davies has died from cancer at the age of 72. Peep Show writer teams up with Brooker 8-Jul-2011 Peep Show writer Jesse Armstrong is to pen an episode of Charlie Brooker’s forthcoming Channel 4 series Black Mirror. 8-Jul-2011 Channel 4 is to strip This is England ’88 over three nights in the run-up to Christmas.

Isle of Wight 3D, Sky Arts 9-Jun-2011 Having covered live sports and even opera in the past, Sky is taking its 3D trucks to the Isle of Wight this weekend for the first big music festival of the summer. John Cassy, Sky 3D 9-Jun-2011 Sky has filmed more than 100 live events in 3D and its dedicated channel has a burgeoning arts and factual slate. But the story has to come first, its 3D head tells Robin Parker. The Comedy Unit 19-May-2011 With a series of hits under its belt north of the border, including Burnistoun and Gary: Tank Commander, The Comedy Unit has its sights set on the rest of the UK. BBC3 picks up Scottish sitcom 17-May-2011 BBC Scotland comedy Gary: Tank Commander has secured a network slot on BBC3 - the first such move for a Scottish sitcom in seven years.

Revealed: TV’s freelancer training gap 27-Apr-2011 Financial pressures, employer cutbacks and the time-consuming task of job-hunting have led to almost a quarter of TV freelancers having had no training at all in the past four years. Ofcom clears raunchy X Factor performances - just 20-Apr-2011 Ofcom is to revise the rules governing family entertainment shows after ruling that The X Factor final performances by Rihanna and Christina Aguilera were “at the very margin of acceptability”. C4 orders three more runs of Million Pound Drop 20-Apr-2011 Channel 4 is to air 29 further episodes of The Million Pound Drop Live this year after awarding producer David Flynn, Remarkable Television 20-Apr-2011 With Channel 4’s Million Pound Drop and BBC2’s daytime series Pointless under his belt, the Remarkable boss has hit two of his personal targets. So, asks Robin Parker, what next?

FX UK snaps up rights to Spielberg’s alien invasion 7-Apr-2011 FX UK is to air Steven Spielberg’s new alien drama Falling Skies three weeks after its US broadcast, after snapping up the UK rights from Turner Broadcasting System International. Indie survey records first fall in revenues 17-Mar-2011 The value of the UK independent production sector tumbled by almost 10% to £1.74bn in 2010 - the first time it has fallen since Broadcast’s Indie Survey began in 2003. Fast Show duo tackle Alzheimer’s for R4 16-Mar-2011 Comic writer/performers Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson are to tackle the challenging subject of Alzheimer’s for a Radio 4 series. Ruth Jones: keeping everything Tidy 17-Feb-2011 Sky 1 asked for ‘the British Roseanne’, but Tidy Productions’ first major commission snowballed into something bigger. Ruth Jones tells Robin Parker about taking control. The pitfalls of network TV 10-Feb-2011 Want to work in network TV in the US?

Veteran comedy producer Mitchell Hurwitz, creator of cult series Arrested Development, has some words of warning. Robin Parker reports. Skins (series five), E4 27-Jan-2011 E4’s acclaimed drama is entering its fifth series with its third-generation cast, while a US remake is kicking up a fuss on MTV. Robin Parker hears how the team keep it fresh. Bedlam, Sky Living 27-Jan-2011 A series of ghost stories set in a former asylum will be Living’s first step into original scripted content. Robin Parker hears how the show came about.

Question: Writer of films such as 'Love Actually' and 'Notting Hill', which long-term partner of Emma Freud co-founded Comic Relief with Lenny Henry?
Answer: RICHARD CURTIS